Firing-gear of ordnance.



A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUGKHAM.

FIRING GEAR 0F ORDNANGE.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.20, 1909.

Patented June 13, 1911.

2 SHEETir-SHEET 1.

1145 mm: PETERS 170-. WASHINGTON, a. c.

A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUGKHAM.

FIRING GEAR OF ORDNANGE.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.20. 1909.

Patented June 13,1911.

z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l 1 A i 1 n3.

:01, WASHINGTON, n. c

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE THOMAS IBUGKI-IAM, OF WESTMINSTER,

LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOBS TO VI MINSTER, ENGLAND.

GKEBS sons MAXIM LIMITED, or waste- FIRING-GEAR or ORDNANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t t d June 13, 1911.

Application filed March 20, 1909. Serial No. 484,746.

both subjects of the King of Great Britain,

- ments in and Relating to the F iring-Gear of Ordnance, of which the following is a residing at 82 Victoria street, Westminster,

in the county of London, England, have in- 1 vented certain new and useful Improvespecification.

This invention relates to firing gear of the kind in which there is at the breech end 4 plunger which operates 3 through a firing lever and other appropriate mechanism to release the firing pin or striker mounted in the usual manner in a sliding lock casing carried by a box slide attached to the axial vent. The firing plunger is released by the pulling of the usual j trigger and is cooked by the angular move- 5 ment of the breech screw in opening the of the gun a firing breech, through the intervention of a cocking cam on the breech screw. According to our invention the said firing plunger is provided with a tripping piece or cam which is so arranged relatively to the firing lever that operates the push rod on the box slide for liberating the striker for firing the gun, that the said tripping piece or cam clears itself of the firing lever after imparting sufficient movement to the latter for actuating the push rod and firing the gun, whereby the various moving parts are permitted to return to their normal position under the infiuence of their springs and the firing plunger is rendered free to be recocked.

In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation of our improved firing gear looking toward the breech of the gun. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same as. seen from the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a-sectlonal plan, the parts being shown in the posltion they occupy prior to the release of the firing plunger from its cocked posit1on for firing the gun. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectronal plans of the firing plunger showing it and its tripping cam in the position they occupy during and after the operation of the firing lever. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of a' modification of the firing plunger and its tripping cam. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the trigger mechanism which is ar ranged on a non-recoiling part of the gun mounting. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of the same, and Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken approximately 011 the line l1 of Fig. 7.

A is the breech end of the gun.

B is the flange of the breech screw to which the cooking cam B is attached.

C is the swinging carrier.

D is the sliding lock casing and D the box slide in which said lock easing moves in the well known manner. The said lock casing is provided with the usual striker which is actuated by the trigger sear D controlled by the trigger D the said trigger being mounted on the axis pin of the trigger lever D which, when the lock casing is in the firing position, lies with its free end contiguous to the inner end of the spring push rod carried by the box slide.

E is the firing plunger which is mounted to slide in a bracket F secured to the rear face of the gun.

H is the releasing lever which is pivotally connected at h to a block F mounted in the bracket F and retained therein by a split pin 7. I is the firing lever which is pivotally mounted at 2' in an extension of the carrier C. J is a rocking spindle, one end of which is furnished with a radial projection or lug J that lies adjacent to the said releasing lever H and the other end of which is furnished with an arm J that lies c011- tiguous to the trigger K which is pivotally mounted at 70 in the pistol grip K and which operates the said arm J as will be hereinafter described.

The aforesaid firing plunger E is hollow to receive the tripping piece or cam E and a spiral spring 6, the tripping cam being connected to the plunger by a transverse axis pin 0 and having a shoulder 6 against which a loose plug'e bears under the influence of the spring 6. The end of the plunger remote from the tripping cam has two hooked portions e which, when the plunger is in its fully retracted or cooked position, engage with similar hooked portions 1/ on the releasing lever H as shown in Fig. 3. The engagement of these twohooked portions 6 k retains the firing plunger cooked and a notched or recessed portion a of the tripping cam E in engagement with the contiguous end 2" of the firing lever I as shown in Fig. 3. The said firing plunger may also be provided with a handle E (Figs. 1 and 2) or other cocking device for enablingit to be recocked by hand as re.

ates the loose plug 6 at one extremity andthe loose plug f at the other extremity.

This plug .3 transmits the s ring pressure;

f P a of its spring i and the spring push rod D to the releasing lever H.

When the breech is being opened to recharge the gun, the angular 'motion of the breech screw in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 in unlocking, causes the cocking cam B on the fiange of the breech screw, to press 5 the firing plunger outward from the posi-1 tion shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 3, thus cocking said firing plunger by bringing '3 its hooked portion 6' into engagement with F the hooked portion k of the releasing lever E As the notched portion of the tripping cam E on the plunger passes the adjacent or outer end a" of the firing lever I, the

- tripping cam is partially rotated on its axis e anti-clockwise against the resistance of the spring'e thereby passing the lever without disturbing it, owing to the fact that the spring 1' offers greater resistance than the spring e. Immediately the notch e comes opposite the end 21 of said lever the said notch engages therewith by the reaction of the spring e as shown in Fig. 3. The breech mechanism having been unlocked and the firing plunger thus fully cooked, the carrier C is swung open carrying with it the firing lever I and the operation of loading is performed in the usual manner. On the carrier being closed again the firing lever I resumes the position in which its end 2" reengages with the notch e of the tripping cam E ('Fig. When the releasing lever H is operated for example by the arm J on the rocking spindle J (Fig. 7) forming part of themechanical arrangement for firing the gun, the hooked portion h of the said releasing lever is disengaged from the hooked portion e of the firing plunger, whereby the Y latter 'is released and urged forward u V its snring 6. During this forward movement of the plunger its tripping cam (my reason of its notch c being still engaged with the adjacent end a" :of the firing lever I) is caused to turn on its axis e in a clockwise direction against the resistance of its spring e, thereby pushing this end of the firing lever out-ward as shown in Fig. 4. The other arm 2' of the firing lever that lies in contact with the firing bolt or push rod D on the boxslide of the lock, thereby actuates the said push rod and effects the firing of the gun through the aforesaid trigger lever D- m-the usual manner. As the said firing plunger E completes its forward movement under the influence of its spring 6, the shoulder e on the left of the said notch c of the tripping cam slips past the end i of the firing lever and the tripping cam turns about its axis pin 6 in an anticlockwise direction by the action of its spring plug 6 thus resuming its normal position shown in Fig. 5. At the same time the firing lever, after having effected its firing movement as aforesaid, at once returns to its normahposition under the action The tripping cam is then ready to rengage with the end 2" of the firing lever as shown in Fig. 3, when the firing plunger is again acted upon by the cocking cam B at the next angular displacement of the breech screw in unlocking it.

In this arrangement of firing gear the action of the firing plunger is controlled by onespr-ing; the parts are simple in construction and are easily assembled; the complete arrangement is an unobtrusive feature on the gun, having no large projections likely to interfere with the free working of the gun; all the springs in the arrangement are in a free or unrestrained condition when the gear is not in use, thereby obviating undue stress on the parts; and it is impossible to release the striker while re-cocking of the firing plunger is being effected by means of the aforesaid cam on the breech screw thereby insuring safety in the use of the apparatus.

In the modification shown by Fig. 6, the position of the said tripping cam E is not changed by the action of the spring plug 0 which merely bears against the adjacent semi-circular surface thereof under :the influence of the spring 6 and gives rise tosufficient friction between these parts to prevent the said .cam from changing its position ,on the axis pin 6 unless positively moved. The said tripping cam has a toe piece 6' which protrudes through a slotgin the firing plunger and lies in a slot f in the surrounding bracket F. When the firing plunger is in .the .cocked position (which is :the position in which it is represented in this figure) the toe piece abuts against the end f of the said slot f. When the firing plunger is released by disengaging its hooked portions 6 from the hooked port-ions ,h of the releasing lever H and flies forward under the action of the spring 6, as in the precedingarrangement already described, the notched portion a .of the said tripping cam engages with the adjacent end 2" of the firing lever and moves the latter about its pivot i to a sufficient extent to fire the gun, the shoulder e" of the tripping cam getting in front of the said end i of the firing lever as the firing plunger completes its forward movement. The firing lever then resumes its original cam to its housed position under the influence of its spring 2' and in so doing returns the said tripping position in the firing plunger. When the said firing plunger is cocked again by the cocking cam during the angular movement of the breech screw .in unlocking, the shoulder e of the tripping cam will ride over the end z" of the firing lever without actuating the latter and as the said firing plunger assumes its-fully cocked position the toe-piece eof the tripping cam will come against the end f of the slotf, whereby the said tripping cam Will be moved into the position shown in this figure (Fig. 6) with its notched portion 6 ready to engage with the firing 'lever at the next release of the firing plunger in the manner already explained. I l

The mechanism for actuating the releasinglever H may be of the kind illustrated by Figs. 7 to 9, in which Kis a pistol grip forming the rear portion of a hollow casing K which contains the electric contacts is k and which is carried by a bracket K attached to the gun cradle. The forward portionof the casing is connected with a neck K on the said bracket by means of a hinged jaw or clamp K. provided with a suitable clamping screw K". The said casing K is prevented from moving around the bracket by a key K" engaging with the neck of the bracket, endwise movement of the said casing on the neck being prevented by a segmental key K on the hinged jaw or clamp. The trigger K is contained in the pistol grip K and is provided. with an insulated button through which the contact lever 70* is depressed for closing the electric contacts to fire the gun. The trigger is also provided with a roller 70 through which is actuated the forward arm J 2 of the rocking firing spindle J that conveys motion to the releasing lever H to liberate the firing plunger E and fire the gun as above described. All of the internal parts are readily accessible for inspection or adjustment from the top of the casing K which is normally closed by a cover plate K and securing screw K What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In firing gear for breech loading guns, the combination of means for releasing the firing pin or striker, a transverse firing plunger, means for retracting and cooking said plunger, means for releasing said plunger from its cocked position, and a hinged tripping piece operatively interposed between said plunger and the said striker-releasing means, said tripping piece engaging with the striker-releasing means when the plunger is cooked, and operating to clear itself from engagement with said it-riker-releasing means after actuating the atter.

2. In firing gear for breech loading guns, the combination of means for releasing the firing pin or striker, a transverse firing plunger, means for retracting and cocking said plunger by the angular displacement of the breech screw, means for releasing said plunger from its cocked position, and a hinged tripping piece operatively interposed between said plunger and the said striker-releasing means, said tripping piece engaging with the striker-releasing means when the plunger is cocked, and operating to clear itself from engagement with the striker-releasing means after actuating the latter.

3. In firing gear for breech loading guns, the combination of a firing lever forming part of the means for releasing the firing pin engaging with the firing lever when the plunger is cocked, and operating to clear itself from engagement with the firing lever after actuating the latter.

4:. In firing gear for breech loading guns, the combination of a firing lever forming part of the means for releasing the firing pin or striker, a firing plunger, means for retracting and cooking said plunger, means for releasing said plunger from its cocked position, a tripping piece pivoted to said plunger, said tripping piece engaging with the firing lever when the plunger is cooked, and on the release and advance of the plunger, turning about its pivot in actuating the firing lever and then disengaging itself ready to resume its reengaging position.

5. In firing gear for breech loading guns, the combination of a firing lever forming part of the means for releasing the firing pin or striker, a firing plunger, means for retracting and cocking said plunger, means for releasing said plunger from its cocked position, a spring controlled tripping piece pivoted to said plunger, said tripping piece under the influence of its spring engaging with the firing lever, and on the release and advance of the plunger, turning about its pivot against the resistance of its spring and in so doing actuating the firing lever and then under the influence of said spring disengaging itself from the firing lever and resuming its reengaging posit-ion.

6. In firing gear for breech loading guns, the combination of a firing lever forming part of the means for releasing the firing pin or striker, a firing plunger, a spring mounted therein, means for retracting and cooking said plunger, means for releasing said plunger from its cocked position, a tripping piece pivoted to said plunger and acted on by the plunger-jspring,-said tripping piece under the; influence of the plunger-spring engaging? with the firing :leverand on the release and advance of the plunger, turning about its, pivot against the resistance of said plunger-. -spring;and,in.-so doing actuating the firing; lever and then under the influence of said; plunger-spring disengaging itself from the firing leverzandresuming its rengaging poor striker, a firing plunger, a springmounted sition.

:7. In firing gear for breech loading guns, the comblnatlon of a firmg lever formmg part of the'means for releasing the firing pin orstriker, a firing plunger, a sprlng mounted therein, means for retracting and cocking said plunger, means for releasing said plungerfrom its cocked position, a tripping piece pivoted -to said plunger and formed with a notch for engagement with the firing lever,= a shoulder on said tripping piece, and a loose plug bearing against saidshoulder under the action of the plunger-sprlng.

8. ,In firing gear for breech loading guns, the rCOD'lblIliLlilOl'l of a firlng lever forming part ;,of the means for releasing the firing :pin or striker, a firing plunger, a spring mounted therein, means for retracting said plunger, a hooked portion at the inner end of said plunger, a releasing lever for engagement therewith under the action of said plunger-spring, means for actuating said releasing lever, a tripping piece pivoted to said plunger, the said tripping piece engaging with the firing lever under the influence of therein, means for retracting said plunger by hand and by the angular displacement of the breech screw, a'hooked portion at the inner end of the plunger, a releasing lever for engagement therewith'under the action of said plunger spring, a rocking firing spindle actuated by'the firing trigger, a lug on said firing spindle situated contiguous to the releasing lever, a tripping piece pivoted to said plunger, the tripping piece engaging with the firing lever under the influence of the plunger-spring whenthe plunger is cooked,

and on the release and advance of the plunger, turning about its pivot in actuating the firing lever and then disengaging itself ready to resume its reengaging position.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUGKHAM.

Witnesses: Y

HENRY KING, ALFRED PEAKs.

Copies of th s patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. v 

